Membership on any commission, standing committee or committee is for a three-year term. Most groups meet once per year at the NCTE Annual Convention in November. Click on the name of a particular group to see a fuller description and more information.

Commissions are essentially deliberative and advisory bodies that deal with defined branches of study within the English language arts (composition, language, literature, media, and reading).

Standing Committees focus on particular issues or continuing areas of substantial concern whose effects cross all branches of study in English instruction (censorship, research, international concerns).

Committees are a short-term group appointed by the NCTE Executive Committee to study issues, develop publications, make proposals, or carry on activities related to one or more levels of instruction (writing, racism, poetry for children, reading).

Task Forces are authorized by the NCTE Executive Committee to carry out specific, targeted, high-priority projects identified by the Executive Committee.

Forums are authorized by the NCTE Executive Committee to identify and address broad concerns of NCTE Members (higher education, research).